Survey Says 24% Use Seat Belts In The City

December 20, 1985|The Morning Call

Seat-belt use in Allentown increased dramatically in recent months, according to surveys by the city Health Bureau.

Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all drivers observed at five busy intersections this week had buckled up. That compares to 11 percent of 1,000 vehicles surveyed in September 1984 and 16 percent last September.

Tom Morgan, associate health director for environmental services, attributes the increase to bureau efforts to increase awareness as well as Allentown's participation in the nationwide U.S. Conference of Mayors' competition, spearheaded by Mayor Joseph Daddona.

Among the initiatives directed toward getting more people to use seat belts were "buckle-up" signs, educational presentations and competitions at city schools, demonstrations using "The Convincer" and letters asking physicians to remind their patients to buckle up.

Another factor in the improved statistics, according to Morgan, was the participation by the American Red Cross, Lehigh County unit, in taking the same incentives to municipalities outside of Allentown.

He anticipates even more residents will begin wearing seat belts when students at the three city schools compete for awards, and the awareness campaign moves into other Lehigh Valley schools as well as businesses.